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She's still working hard as a panelist on The View and an occasional movie star, but the fact is, birthday girl Whoopi Goldberg (57 today) has already cemented a pretty-much-unbeatable legacy in the entertainment industry. Here are 10 favorite things about her.
10. She is the funniest character in Soapdish (though Sally gives it all she's got)
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Also: She was commanding and looked amazing in this.
9. Give it up: Sister Act rules
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The triumphant "Oh Maria" clap-along performance? No, Joyful Noise, you will never be this.
8. She was a brilliant center square on Hollywood Squares
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And she personally made Bruce Vilanch a celebrity, which is a victory for everybody.
7. Her ecstatic Oscar speech for Ghost
With apologies to the kickass Annette Bening's work in The Grifters, this speech is pretty irreplaceable.
6. Her secret admission that she was stoned during that speech.
Just like Jessica Tandy.
5. "Molly, you in danger, girl."
Best line-reading of 1990? I say yes. Take that, Joe Pesci!
4. She's staunchly pro-gay and pro-choice
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Whoopi has given us some of the harshest one-liners about abortion I've ever heard from a standup. Here's one of my favorites: "I say to this dude with a 'Stop Abortion' picket sign, 'I have the answer to abortion: shoot your d*ck. Take that tired piece of meat down to the ASPCA and let them put it to sleep.'"
3. The rebel attitude of "one-woman show" Whoopi
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The NYT described her in her one-woman act The Spook Show as "a cross between Lily Tomlin and Richard Pryor." Highest praise possible? I think so.
2. She is the only African-American woman to win the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony)
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We're waiting on you, Viola Davis.
1. She is unforgettable in The Color Purple
Geraldine Page, I'm glad you finally picked up an Oscar, but let's face it: The "Best Actress" of 1985 was Whoopi, hands down. The Color Purple won zero of its 11 nominations, and the hardest defeat was certainly in this category.
